Stuff I Liked in 2014

1/1/15

Every year promises to be the greatest year in film score history. When a film is a coming attraction, the accompanying music couldn't possibly be anything other than pure ear candy. Just ask Mrs. FilmScoreFans... particularly before each summer season, I've got an extra bounce in my step. So much promise. So much hope. That new action movie is going to be crazy intense. That new drama is going to sweep me off my feet. That new comedy will be silly but endearing. Every score will be amazing from start to finish. Themes! Great main titles everywhere!!

Then reality sets in, and I remember just how picky I am. My life has been spent searching for complete scores that are stellar from start to finish. Stargate. Shawshank. HTTYD. Every note is perfect. I've gone through dry spells that have lasted for years. The search can be a difficult one.

​But, 2014 brought about a change in my search pattern. Mrs. FilmScoreFan put me on a one-score-a-month budget. Evil, I know. Apparently, "money doesn't grow on trees" is something my father taught her to say.

Anyway, as technology progressed and hard drive space became obsolete, I began to realize that I needed to relocate my search to the Cloud. That should be capitalized right? It's a place, right? I assume there's some lucky dude in an office somewhere that gets me my music when I need it?

I turned to Spotify. Once I got over the fact that I would no longer be adding to my collection of scores, I fell in love with this option. About $10 a month gets me almost every new score around it's physical release date. (No, this is not an advertisement for Spotify. But, if they want to give me my subscription for free, I won't complain.) Instead of hoping that my monthly score purchase would pan out, I now have infinite listening choices. (Seriously wife, ONE per month?!?!)

And so, I've become much more forgiving when I only find a few amazing tracks on a score. I no longer live in fear of clicking the purchase button on iTunes.

Your power is gone!

Instead, I listen to everything, and just save the stuff I love. I know you're probably reading this and thinking, "Hey moron, the rest of the world caught onto this years ago." But, giving up the ownership of the physical albums was a big step for this Film Score Fan. A step I'm glad I took.

So here are the fruits of my new search pattern. In no particular order, I give you twenty two of the tracks that made me hit "repeat" over and over again in 2014.

Torrance TornadoUnbroken - Alexandre Desplat

Mr. Desplat had a major awesome incredible fantastic year. This slow main theme was a late addition, but quickly became one of my favorite dramatic themes of the year.

I'm always enamored with themes that can maintain their warmth from the beginning to end of each phrase.

Flying With MotherHow to Train Your Dragon 2 - John Powell

One of the big questions coming into any sequel is always the introduction of new themes. This theme fits so well into the pre-existing HTTYD tonalities, but the melody is just a little "off." I don't have a technical music theory word for it. But for whatever reason, this melody (wonderfully orchestrated for the choir) represents Hiccup's mother perfectly.

I want to be John Powell.

Heist 3The Crew - Joseph Trapanese

This entire album is a fun listen, but the thing that makes it stand out is the use of the acoustic bass. Mr. Trapanese gives us great electronic music - but makes it unique with this instrumentation.

I don't think it is easy to do something unique in the world of Immediate Music-like scoring. Trapanese was very successful here.

My EnemyThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Hans ZImmer

I never got a real feeling (in the Twitterverse) on fan reaction to this one. The first time I heard it, I hated it. But, I eventually began to appreciate the clarinet next to the vocalizations. Nothing more than that - I just like that mix. Now I turn it up to 11.

THE HANGING TREETHE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART I - THE LUMINEERS & JAMES NEWTON HOWARD

​From The Lumineer's wonderful melody, to Jennifer Lawrence's simple inflection choices, to the wonderful orchestra climax at the end of the track - what's not to love?

BLACK TEARSGUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - TYLER BATES

I've stated it before: I understand that sometimes film composers cannot fully realize their ideas. The images on screen dictate where the music has to go. But, this track takes it to the finish line.

For two entire minutes, Mr. Bates gets to build anticipation, and then pushes the finish line back another 10 seconds with the antagonist theme. Finally, at 2:15 we get the heroic statement we knew was coming. Perfect.

SAD MAYDAYPLANES: FIRE & RESCUE - MARK MANCINA

I simply cannot explain why I love this track so much. But, that might be one of the reasons I am so attached to it.

Nostalgia. Sadness. Pride. Fear. Hope. It's all here in two minutes from a B-level animated movie. Especially at 0:55 and 1:30. If you skipped this one before, give it another listen!

REVELATION OF IMMENSITYCOSMOS - ALAN SILVESTRI

Alan Silvestri + Neil deGrasse Tyson. Um, yes please.

The moment at 1:20 accompanies the incomprehensable size of the universe. And instead of being overwhelming, Silvestri's music is a celebration of deGrasse Tyson's "star stuff" sentiment.